A corpus of scholarly works arises around every author to help
explain the depth of meaning in the original opus. Once an author’s
work is read it is only natural for casual fans and scholars alike to
try to understand the full implications of stories that one has
enjoyed.

This is not just work for the universities or folks who want to sell
books. You can start a small project and make it your hobby to go along
with your reading of the novels. Each fan might write an article on the
name they have chosen at ERBlist. (See my “Search for Nkima” at Nkima
Speaks.)  

Some of the Basic Work on ERB is already finished:
  A. There are 3 biographies of the author: Porges, Fenton, & Taliaferro.
  B. There are good bibliographies of his works: Heins, Zeuschner, &
     Huckenpohler.
  C. The Tarzan movies have been discussed by Essoe & Fury.
  D. A basic discussion of all of ERB’s works has been written by
     Lupoff
  E. In-depth studies have been written by Holtsmark, Lupoff, and
     others.
  F. Time-lines of the author & his works are on the internet at
     Tangor’s & Hillman’s sites.
  G. Comic book lists are on line at Hillman’s site.
  H. There are 2 dictionaries of people, places, and things found
     in the novels by McWhorter and Brady.

However, there is still much basic work to be done with ERB.

  A. Bill Ross is cataloging all of the ERB fan magazines.
  B. Duane Adams is doing a definitive study of the Dell Comics.

Basic Research Projects to be completed

1. Chapter Summaries need to be written for each novel. (This
on-going project is at Tangor’s site, and interested people may
contribute at will.)

2. We need an Outline of the Plot Structure of each novel - linking
chains of episodes, and discussing ERB’s formulas for writing.

4. We need an Aarne-Thompson-like Motif Indices for each novel.

5. We need to make Topical Bibliographies of magazine articles
available on each book.

6. We need to do Studies of Illustrators for both pulps and the books. 
St. John has been started by Richardson & the 3 vol. St. John set does
exist; there are many good articles by Bob Barrett in the Burroughs
Bulletin; and Hillman’s site is expanding this research. The 2 new
books by Frazetta, as well as his previous paperbound books, provide
access to many of his ERB illustrations. A book on all of ERB’s
illustrators would be welcome.

7. Write a Brief Synopsis of each novel. Tangor & Nkima have this work
on disk.

8. Write  critical literary reviews on each novel.

9. Guides to Tarzan, Caspak, the Moon, and other imaginary worlds might
be written like John Flint Roy’s Guide to Barsoom. (See Tangor’s site
for beginnings of these projects).

A book on Tarzan similar to Lupoff’s “Barsoom and the Martian Vision”
might be written. Holtsmark’s work would be an obvious place to start.,
but a new collection of essays would be welcome. 

10. Collect good ERBapa articles at Tangor’s site along with a complete
ERBapa Index

In-Depth Research

1. There is a need for an ERB Encyclopedia containing in-depth
articles on of all the characters, places, fauna, flora,technologies,
languages, ideas and terminologies found in each novel. This would
compliment the McWhorter and Brady works by providing longer, in-depth
works on each novel.

  A. Specialized Articles  that might be written include:

     1. A study of ERB’s Trilogies.
     2. A comparative study of ERB’s religious and social ideas found
in his fiction, newspaper articles, and personal letters.
     3. A comparative study of ERB’s  fantasy and mainstream novels.
     4. A study of ERB’s linking of his series works.
     5. A study of the American Indian in relation to all of his work
     6. A comparative study of ERB’s main characters. Even
psychological studies would be interesting. I have long thought
of doing a study of Tarzan and John Carter Compared in the manner
of Plutarch. 
     7. A study of “time” in ERB’s novels.
     8. A comparative study of anatomy in ERB’s creatures. 
     9. A comparative study of ERB’s imaginary places.

2. Annotated Versions of each novel should be written.

3. A Collection of ERB’s Letters should be printed.

4. A Collection of ERB’s Unpublished Works should be printed. This is
   being done.

Other Projects

1. More good Pastiches could be written.

2. Write film scripts for each novel.

These are just some ideas from the top of my head. Keep this
list for reference and add to it at will. An expansion of these
project ideas by fans and work on each of these projects is the
thing that is most desirable.

Please send suggestions for ERB Research Projects to:
David "Nkima" Adams
Bruce "Tangor" Bozarth

March 24, 2000